Folding basket.



R. MI ZUBBRBUHLER.

FOLDING BASKET.

APPLIGATIOR FILED AUG. 26, 1011.

1,012,314. Patented Dec. 19,1911.

d0 {5 17 a a WITNESSES.- 5

A TTORJV' E Y S.

coLUMmA PLANOORAPN Cu.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH MARTIN ZUBERBUHLER, 0F BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING BASKET.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH MARTIN ZU- nnnnUi-Innn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Baskets, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a folding basket, and has for its object to provide a basket of such class with a foldable frame in the manner as hereinafter set forth which, when extended, will prevent the body portion of the basket from collapsing and which can be folded in a very compact manner.

Further objects of the invention are to 'provide a folding basket which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, efficient in its use, conveniently folded and extended when occasion so re quires, readily set up and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the see c of the claim hereunto appended.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, broken away, of the folding basket in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the basket frame, and Fig. 3 is an elevation of the basket frame when folded.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the basket includes a hinged frame capable of being folded and extended and which consists of a pair of U-shaped vertically disposed end members 1, 2, and each of which has the upper portion of a vertical arm flattened and extended inwardly in a curvilinear manner as at 3. Pivotally connected to the lower end of each of the vertical arms of each of the end members is a bottom member 4. The pivot between the member Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 26, 1911.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911. Serial No. 646,124.

4. and the end member is indicated at 5. The bottom members are arranged in pairs, the members of each pair projecting toward each other and when the frame is extended the opposing ends of the bottom members of each pair inter-engage with each other and for such purpose one of the bottom members of each pair is formed with a socket for the reception of a protuberance 6 carried by the opposing end of the other bottom member of the pair, as clearly shown in Fig 2. The socket referred to is indicated at 7 and is shown in Fig. 3. Pivotally connected as at 8 to the ends 3 of the vertical arms of the end members are a pair of yokeshaped top members 9 which extend at right angles with respect to the end members 1. The longitudinally extending arms of the top members 9 have their inner ends curving inwardly as at 10 and pivotally connected as at 11 to the longitudinal bars of inverted T-shaped couplings 12.

The position which the frame assumes, when folded is shown in Fig. 3 and in this connection it will be stated that the top members 9 fold downwardly substantially in parallelism; the end members 1 and 2 are arranged at the side of the top members, but are disposed at inclination with respect thereto, while the bottom members are also extended at inclinations with respect to the top members, but project above said top members. When the frame is folded the top members swing dowmvardly on their pivots carrying the couplings therewith, the end mcmhers swing on their pivots on the top members, while the bottom members swing upwardly on their pivots.

Connected to the vertical arms of the coupling 12 by suitable hold-fast devices 13 is an inverted yoke-shaped handle 14. Then the frame is folded, the handle is positioned between the top members, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3.

To maintain the frame rigid when extended, a pair of latch members are provided which are secured to the lower ends of the vertical arms of the handle 14. Each of said latch members include a longitudinally extending plate 15, which is fixed to the inner face of a vertical arm of the handle 11 and has hinged to each end as at 16 an inwardly movable leaf 17 provided at its lower end with an outwardly extending angularly disposed flat lug 18, which is adapted to en gage one of the longitudinal arms of the top members 9, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, whereby said top members are prevented from swinging on their pivots thereby maintaining the framerigid. When the leaves 17 are swung inwardly so that the lugs 18 will clear the longitudinal arms of the top members 9 the frame can be folded. The basket further includes flexible body portion 19 preferably of one piece of canvas and which is secured to the top members 9. The top of the body portion 19 is cut away at 20 to provide clearance for moving of the latch members to and from operative position and to also allow of the top members moving on their pivots.

lVhat I claim is A folding basket comprising a flexible body portion, a pair of coupling members arranged within and at the top of sides of said body portion, longitudinally extending U-shaped top frame members pivotally connected to said coupling members, vertically disposed U-shaped end frame members pivotally connected to said top members, interengaging bottom frame members pivotally connected to said end members, a handle attached to said coupling members, and latch members carried by the handle and engaging with said top members for maintaining the frame extended.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RUDOLPH MARTIN ZUBERBUHLER. Witnesses:

WALTER WVILLIAM ZUBERBUI-ILER, VERNER CHARLES STAoY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

